parking

Seattle's new parking meters, scheduled to replace 2,200 outdated meters, are kind of a big deal. Their guts and brains are state of the art, with speedy cellular service, bigger screens and a numeric keypad capable of ingesting complex kinds of information, such as license plate numbers.

Just east of Gas Works Park, there’s a road with a row of back-in parking spots. Some modern buildings have sprouted up here, but the winding street still feels like a road people drive through without stopping.

Paul Freed lives in downtown Seattle and currently uses the city’s app to pay for parking with his phone – even when he’s standing right in front of the meter. “It's way more convenient,” Freed said. “You don’t need to fumble around for your credit card in the rain.”

First there was Craigslist. Then other more specialized websites arrived to make it easier to rent out your spare bedroom, vacation home, or even your car. A new category to catch on in the Northwest allows drivers to reserve a parking spot in someone else's driveway.

The Seattle City Council is considering a change to the city’s parking zone program. Currently, permits are only available to residents who live in certain areas. The changes would allow some employees who work in these areas – and are getting slapped with expensive tickets – to purchase permits as well. But some residents are opposed.